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| News Papers |
Springfield is the home of the Assemblies of God
Reflections on 'Jesus Camp'
Documentary explores children's experiences with fundamentalism.
Linda Leicht
News-Leader
Few things can stir emotions like religion and politics, and a new movie that opened this
weekend in Springfield has plenty of both.
"Jesus Camp", a documentary that offers an inside look at how the two topics merge in a
Christian summer camp, opened in 10 Midwest cities, before it hits the major markets on
both coasts. It is showing at the Campbell 16 Cine.
"I heard a lot of theories ... about brainwashing children," said Cassandra Massengale,
who attended a special preview with the filmmakers and several of the film's subjects
Thursday evening.
Massengale, 17, wasn't sure what to expect. The Nixa High School student admits to
having "dropped away" from religion, but she found the film provocative and worth seeing.
"It was very well done."
That reaction is what filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady hope will carry the film,
which has had some searing prerelease reaction from Christians and non-Christians alike.
"There's a lot of shrill screeching going on," said Ewing.
The movie introduces Pastor Becky Fischer, who holds a summer camp that takes
vacation Bible school to a new level. It also provides a close look at a few children who
attended "Kids on Fire" camp — all from Missouri.
The kids are outspoken, committed Christians, and Fischer believes they are the future of
the faith and the country.
In the film, the juxtaposition of God and country is a theme that is impossible to miss. What
it means is not as clear. That is what Lukus Pathkiller liked about the film. It gave him
something to think about, without claiming to have the answers.
"It was well balanced," the Nixa teen said. "I was surprised."
Fischer was surprised, too. She was concerned initially that the film was too political, but
the final cut is fair, she said. "I can support this."
Prayer as a weapon
Fischer began working as a children's minister more than two decades ago, but it wasn't
until she attended a healing service where she witnessed "miracles" that she brought that
message back to her ministry. Raised a Pentecostal, she had heard stories of miraculous
healings, but she had never seen it. When she did, she wanted to share it.
"I didn't know any better than to go home and teach our kids," Fischer said.
She soon discovered that children are open to charismatic expressions of faith. "I was
dumbfounded at how easily they learned things of the supernatural world," she said. That
is when she decided to deliberately teach those charismatic principles.
"I'm on a campaign to change the way the church disciples children," she said, nearly
lifting off the chair in her excitement.
She compares her ministry with the Islamic schools that train Muslim children to be ready
for jihad.
"While churches are passing out coloring pages and snacks to kids, the Palestinians are
out there" teaching kids to be martyrs for their religion, she said.
"It's not that I want to raise up killers," she added quickly. "What's our weapon? Prayer.
They're mighty through God. We're equipping them for the love of Jesus. ... What the
Taliban terrorists do is out of hatred. Ours is out of love."
Fact and fiction
The film shows scenes with children, such as 9-year-old Rachael Elhardt of Waynesville,
in tears as they raise their arms in prayer as they grasp palm-sized plastic images of
fetuses. Or boys such as 12-year-old Levi O'Brien of St. Robert with faces painted in
camouflage as they perform a spiritual war dance.
The film shows the children both in camp and at home.
Rachael wants to be a Christian manicurist. She prays for a good score at bowling, then
throws a gutter ball. Then she walks up to a young woman at the bowling alley and tells
her that God loves her.
"People think I'm weird. So what," she says into the camera. "It doesn't matter what you
think."
Now 11, Rachael is still as sure of her faith, and she likes the film. "It's really cool," she
said after the showing. "I don't see what all the fuss was about."
Her mother, Michelle Elhardt, wasn't as pleased.
"It's an interesting piece of fiction," said Elhardt, who homeschools her two children.
"We're really not political. ... It showed us in a strange way, a little off kilter."
A trip to Washington to pray about abortion, featured in the film, was actually arranged by
the filmmakers, Elhardt said. Abortion and other issues are part of her faith, not her
politics, she said. "We emphasize a walk with the Lord."
Levi will be a preacher. His favorite sermon topic is "faith" and he already has the
confidence of a revivalist as he preaches for the other kids at camp. One scene shows
him out in the camp by himself working on his presentation. Then he mimics the sound of
a cheering crowd and takes a small bow.
Now 14, he called the film "really interesting. It puts Christians in a good light."
His dad, Tim O'Brien, a preacher, agreed. He understands the controversy, even among
those in the film. "But we're excited about having a voice with what God is doing with this
generation," he said.
Indoctrination?
A dissident voice in the film comes from Mike Papantonio on Air America radio. In scenes
sprinkled throughout the film, Papantonio questions whether the kind of "indoctrination"
Fischer does with the kids is really good for Christianity or the country.
The film starts with a caller telling Papantonio he opposes the ministry. "There's nothing
Christian about 'em," the caller insists.
Papantonio is nodding his head, and the audience may be ready to agree, but the film
forces the viewer to see several sides of the issue.
The overt images of Christianity in America — from roadside crosses to billboards signed
by God, seem surreal when Levi declares, "America is supposed to be God's nation. ...
Now a lot of people in America just aren't following God."
A life-size, cardboard cutout of President Bush set up before the campers, along with a
invocation to "pray the Spirit over him," is followed by a caller on Papantonio's show
declaring, "They've taken over the White House."
A subtext to the film is the nomination and confirmation of Samuel Alito to fill retiring
Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court, an event that was happening during
filming. The campers are urged to pray for "righteous judges."
It begs the question of how comfortable America is with such an overt mixture of politics in
religious expression, while insisting on the freedom to express those viewpoints.
For Ewing and Grady, it was a question they were excited to ask and ponder.
"I feel like the film chronicles our own journey," said Ewing, who was raised Roman
Catholic.
Making the film introduced a new and provocative view of Christianity for Grady, who was
raised Jewish.
"I didn't know that faith like this existed."
Reflections on 'Jesus Camp'
Documentary explores children's experiences with fundamentalism.
Linda Leicht
News-Leader
Few things can stir emotions like religion and politics, and a new movie that opened this
weekend in Springfield has plenty of both.
"Jesus Camp", a documentary that offers an inside look at how the two topics merge in a
Christian summer camp, opened in 10 Midwest cities, before it hits the major markets on
both coasts. It is showing at the Campbell 16 Cine.
"I heard a lot of theories ... about brainwashing children," said Cassandra Massengale,
who attended a special preview with the filmmakers and several of the film's subjects
Thursday evening.
Massengale, 17, wasn't sure what to expect. The Nixa High School student admits to
having "dropped away" from religion, but she found the film provocative and worth seeing.
"It was very well done."
That reaction is what filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady hope will carry the film,
which has had some searing prerelease reaction from Christians and non-Christians alike.
"There's a lot of shrill screeching going on," said Ewing.
The movie introduces Pastor Becky Fischer, who holds a summer camp that takes
vacation Bible school to a new level. It also provides a close look at a few children who
attended "Kids on Fire" camp — all from Missouri.
The kids are outspoken, committed Christians, and Fischer believes they are the future of
the faith and the country.
In the film, the juxtaposition of God and country is a theme that is impossible to miss. What
it means is not as clear. That is what Lukus Pathkiller liked about the film. It gave him
something to think about, without claiming to have the answers.
"It was well balanced," the Nixa teen said. "I was surprised."
Fischer was surprised, too. She was concerned initially that the film was too political, but
the final cut is fair, she said. "I can support this."
Prayer as a weapon
Fischer began working as a children's minister more than two decades ago, but it wasn't
until she attended a healing service where she witnessed "miracles" that she brought that
message back to her ministry. Raised a Pentecostal, she had heard stories of miraculous
healings, but she had never seen it. When she did, she wanted to share it.
"I didn't know any better than to go home and teach our kids," Fischer said.
She soon discovered that children are open to charismatic expressions of faith. "I was
dumbfounded at how easily they learned things of the supernatural world," she said. That
is when she decided to deliberately teach those charismatic principles.
"I'm on a campaign to change the way the church disciples children," she said, nearly
lifting off the chair in her excitement.
She compares her ministry with the Islamic schools that train Muslim children to be ready
for jihad.
"While churches are passing out coloring pages and snacks to kids, the Palestinians are
out there" teaching kids to be martyrs for their religion, she said.
"It's not that I want to raise up killers," she added quickly. "What's our weapon? Prayer.
They're mighty through God. We're equipping them for the love of Jesus. ... What the
Taliban terrorists do is out of hatred. Ours is out of love."
Fact and fiction
The film shows scenes with children, such as 9-year-old Rachael Elhardt of Waynesville,
in tears as they raise their arms in prayer as they grasp palm-sized plastic images of
fetuses. Or boys such as 12-year-old Levi O'Brien of St. Robert with faces painted in
camouflage as they perform a spiritual war dance.
The film shows the children both in camp and at home.
Rachael wants to be a Christian manicurist. She prays for a good score at bowling, then
throws a gutter ball. Then she walks up to a young woman at the bowling alley and tells
her that God loves her.
"People think I'm weird. So what," she says into the camera. "It doesn't matter what you
think."
Now 11, Rachael is still as sure of her faith, and she likes the film. "It's really cool," she
said after the showing. "I don't see what all the fuss was about."
Her mother, Michelle Elhardt, wasn't as pleased.
"It's an interesting piece of fiction," said Elhardt, who homeschools her two children.
"We're really not political. ... It showed us in a strange way, a little off kilter."
A trip to Washington to pray about abortion, featured in the film, was actually arranged by
the filmmakers, Elhardt said. Abortion and other issues are part of her faith, not her
politics, she said. "We emphasize a walk with the Lord."
Levi will be a preacher. His favorite sermon topic is "faith" and he already has the
confidence of a revivalist as he preaches for the other kids at camp. One scene shows
him out in the camp by himself working on his presentation. Then he mimics the sound of
a cheering crowd and takes a small bow.
Now 14, he called the film "really interesting. It puts Christians in a good light."
His dad, Tim O'Brien, a preacher, agreed. He understands the controversy, even among
those in the film. "But we're excited about having a voice with what God is doing with this
generation," he said.
Indoctrination?
A dissident voice in the film comes from Mike Papantonio on Air America radio. In scenes
sprinkled throughout the film, Papantonio questions whether the kind of "indoctrination"
Fischer does with the kids is really good for Christianity or the country.
The film starts with a caller telling Papantonio he opposes the ministry. "There's nothing
Christian about 'em," the caller insists.
Papantonio is nodding his head, and the audience may be ready to agree, but the film
forces the viewer to see several sides of the issue.
The overt images of Christianity in America — from roadside crosses to billboards signed
by God, seem surreal when Levi declares, "America is supposed to be God's nation. ...
Now a lot of people in America just aren't following God."
A life-size, cardboard cutout of President Bush set up before the campers, along with a
invocation to "pray the Spirit over him," is followed by a caller on Papantonio's show
declaring, "They've taken over the White House."
A subtext to the film is the nomination and confirmation of Samuel Alito to fill retiring
Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court, an event that was happening during
filming. The campers are urged to pray for "righteous judges."
It begs the question of how comfortable America is with such an overt mixture of politics in
religious expression, while insisting on the freedom to express those viewpoints.
For Ewing and Grady, it was a question they were excited to ask and ponder.
"I feel like the film chronicles our own journey," said Ewing, who was raised Roman
Catholic.
Making the film introduced a new and provocative view of Christianity for Grady, who was
raised Jewish.
"I didn't know that faith like this existed."
| There are several 100 news papers and Internet news stories so it is imposable to have the all here on Jesus Camp. |
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| Kids in Ministry. Becky's Web Site |